Treadle.



TREADLE.

PATBNTED MAY 12, 1968.

G. B. LOVETT & M. B. 00E.

APPLICATION FILED 821F124, 1907.

TIE; l.

wihwaoao States,

view showing the UN TE STATES LlF ATENT CHARLES E. LOVETT AND TREAIDLE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1808.

Application filed September 24, 1907. Serial No. 394,421-

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, CHARLEs E. Lovnrr and MARION E. Con, citizens of the United residing at Birmingham, in, the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Treadles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to treadles adapted to be used as a typewriter attachment for the purpose of o crating the shift keys of typewr ting mac ines; said treadle being a so applicable to other uses or purposes for the purpose of operating or actuating levers that are usually operated by hand; the object .of the invention being to provide a simple, convenient and efficient device by means of which shift keys and other similar levers may be conveniently and effectively operated by foot power, thus saving the strain upon the fingers of the hand of the operator and enabling greater speed to be attained in the performance of the work.

Other objects of the invention are to simand improve the constructionand operation of this class of devices; to provide means for accurately the stroke; and to provide simple and improved means for applying the device in position for operation, and for adjusting the length of the link or member that constitutesthe pitman construction.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the recise structural details therein exhibited,

ut that changes, alterations and modifications Within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective improved treadle applied in operative position to the shift key of a ty ewriting machine. Fig. 2 is a sectional Sid; elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional detail view taken on the plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 2.

gaging or regulating Corresponding arts in the several figures are denoted by lilie characters of reference.

The improved device com rises a base piece 1 provided at its side c ges with up ward extending apertured lugs or cars 22 for the passage of a rod or stem 3 having at one end 'a knob 4 constituting a permanent head, and at the other end a detachable head 5 having threaded connection with a stem 3. A foot piece 6 is provided at its side edges with downward extending apertured lugs or cars 7 engaging the stem 3 upon which the foot piece is pivotally supported. The foot piece 6 is provided at its front edge with an upstanding flange 8 constitutinga toe guard; and the base 1 is provided below the front end of the foot piece 6 with a post 9 in which a set screw 10 vertically adj ust able; said screw being provided with a flat head 11 which constitutes a stop to limit the downward movement of the front end of the foot piece, the stroke or extension of movement of which may thus be accurately regulated.

12 designates a clasp consisting preferablyof a flat narrow strip of sheet metal or other suitable material, doubled upon the shift key or lever 13 that is to be operated; the ends of said strip being provided withalining perforations 14 for the reception of a hook 15 formed upon one end of the link or connecting rod of the device; the ends ofthe strip forming the clasp 12 may also be connected by means of a loop 16. The link or connocting member L is composed of two sections or rods 17 and 18, each provided with a terminal eye 1920 7 said rods being'thus slidably and extensibly connected with each other. The upper rod 17 is provided at its outer extremity with the hook l5 engaging the clasp 12, and said upper rod is provided with a plurality of hookshaped ofl'sets 21, any one of which may be engaged by the eye 20 which is formed at the upper end of the lower rod 18 the latter encircling the other,"

members of said link for operating the the p and may thatis to be operated, and the base carrying the pivoted foot piece is placed in convenient position u on the floor; it being understood that sai base and related l parts may be made of any suitable dimensions and of a weight which will insure its 'remaining safely in the position Where it is placed, although, within the scope of the invention, special means may be provided for ose of securing the base against acdis lacement. The link or conis now applied; the component eing readily adjustable to the requisite length. The set screw key or lever cidenta necting rod '10 is finally adjusted to gage the stroke of the foot piece which may in this manner be very accurately adjusted, so as to avoid all possibility of unusual or improper strain upon the keyvor lever that is to be operated by the treadle. The treadle is actuated by the foot of the operator whenever the lever or shift key 13 is to be operated, and the hands of the operator will thus be relieved from the 5 strain incident to the use of said key or lever,

be reserved for other work.

While the present invention is applicable to various uses, it is particularly designer} shift keys of typewriting machines; audit is found that by the use thereof the speed may be materially increased, especially in tabulated and other work calling for frequent use of the shift keys, while much of the strain upon the hands of the operator is avoided.

Havin thus fully described the invention, what is c aimed as new is:

1. In a device of the class described, a base, a pivotally supported foot iece having a toe guard, a lever engaging c asp, and an extensible link or connecting member comprising two rods connected respectively with the clasp and with the toe guard. and each havin an eye encircling the other, and one of sai rods being provided with a plurality of hook-shaped offsets.

2. In a device of the class described, a lever engaging clasp consisting of a flat narrow strip doubled upon itself and apertures, and a loop engaging the contact- 'ng ends of the strip, in combination with a treadle comprising a base and a foot piece pivotally supported thereon, means for limitmg and regulating the stroke of the foot piece, and a link or connecting member com prisin hooked rods connected respectively with t e foot piece and with the lever engaging clasp, and each provided with a terminal eye embracing the other; one of said rods being provided with a plurality of hook-shaped offsets adapted for engagement with the terminal eye of the other rod.

3. In a device of the class described, a treadle,- a lever engaging device, a longitudinally extensible connection between the treadle and the lever engaging device, and means for adjusting the actlve throw of the treadle.

4. In a device of the class described, a treadle, a lever engaging device, a longitudinally extensible connection between said device and the treadle comprising overlap relatively adjustable sections one of which embodies an eye and the other a series of shoulders for engagement with said eye, and means for adjusting the active throw of the treadle.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses;

CHARLES E. LOVETT; MARION E. (JOE.

having alinmg 

